Proof.

Hey y'all! 
I had my RNY on August 8th of 2014 and I'm here to give you proof it DOES WORK. 

I've since lost another 5 pounds a look like this (because of course selfie all the time now): 

I was 285, and after almost eight months have stayed on track to lose about 77% of my excess weight from before. You *can* do it. The first five months sucked the absolute worst beyond any sort of reasonable doubt. The constant not knowing where my stomach was and herking everything up for months was miserable. The special meals you have to make, the protein shakes that fill up the back seat of your car (if you're like me and are incapable of hitting a trashcan). You *can* do it. You have been given a tool, a (very expensive) gift to yourself. Honestly? I lost about 90 pounds and still felt like crap. This last month, I've started working out. In a month, I've lost 4.4 pounds, gained 5.25 in muscle and taken 32% OFF MY MILE TIME. I RAN TWO 15 MINUTE MILES BACK TO BACK! No joke. 

Over my journey I've gone from a size 26 to a 14. Guys, the feeling of walking into Catherines/Lane Bryant looking for a bra and them NOT HAVING ONE SMALL ENOUGH is the BEST feeling you may ever have (okay, maybe if you're me). 

If you're not there yet, if you're still in those sucky first months, YOU CAN DO IT. YOU WILL GET THERE. 

Stay will it! This is the best thing you've done for YOU. EVER. 

Ask me anything; if you want to be myfitnesspal friends I'm electricpotatoes!

Don't forget to submit Before and After photos to share your success with our community!

You have done an excellent job!!   

You are inspiring. Thanks so much for sharing- cuz I'm in those sucky months and needed to hear it. Thank you for posting.

Congratulations! Thanks for posting ... You are my inspiration!!

I'm still pre-op so just wondering what made the first few months so tough.  I'm trying to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

Your life pretty much changes completely. Any relationship you had with food before is pretty much revoked - you have to 100% relearn to eat (and eat sllooowwllyyy). You learn that even if you loved that completely overfull feeling before, you sure ain't gonna love it now. You have to learn what the limits of your stomach are. You have to watch everyone around you continue their (often horrible) relationship with food will begin to disgust you. I still can'****ch my husband scarf food down because it grosses me out (not that I'd usually tell him that). You become so much more aware of food, how it tastes, mostly because you've dreamed about being able to "eat" again. After about six months, it becomes okay. You start to be able to eat rice and bread in small quantities (of course, all of these things are personally dependent - I'm able to eat steak and rice and all those things there are people on here who would tell you they can "never" eat again). Maybe your surgeon says it's okay to have a glass of wine or two. It just does get better, it's just sixish months to get there - and by the time you're there, you've lost about half the weight or more you need to lose and you feel SO MUCH BETTER. You can wear smaller sizes, people have absolutely noticed and you can try to start over again with a healthier, new you. 

You are doing great!! You look amazing!

Great Job!! 

RUnners seem to do well. It's such a great way to burn those calories.

Congrats and all that but what I really wanted to comment on was you pre picture outfit. I love that look. Dresses with boots. Cute outfit!

Deb T